(From left) Jisshu Sengupta, Rituparno Ghosh and Indraneil Sengupta oblige autograph-seeking students at Presidency University on Monday. Picture by Aranya Sen

The 500-seater Physics Lecture Theatre at Presidency University was houseful on Monday afternoon as the cast and crew of Arekti Premer Galpo held sway over students and teachers, fielding questions on same-sex love.

The benches filled up, queues formed in the aisles and many sat down on the floor as film-maker Rituparno Ghosh who made his acting debut in the film, actors Jisshu Sengupta, Indraneil Sengupta and Chapal Bhaduri and director Kaushik Ganguly took their places on the dais.

The questions flew thick and fast, most of them inspired by Arekti Premer Galpo, the story of gay film-maker Abhiroop’s relationship with his married cameraman as they set out to make a documentary on Chapal Bhaduri, who used to essay women’s roles in jatra.

“Is there something called marginalised sexuality? If there is, then why can’t it be in the mainstream?” asked one student. “We don’t know whether homosexuality is mainstream or not because ordinary men too can be a part of the non-mainstream. It’s non-dominant sexuality, which we don’t celebrate or feel too embarrassed to celebrate, that we are concerned about,” answered Rituparno.

“If it is illegitimate for a married man to have an affair with a woman, how can it be acceptable for him to be in a relationship with another man?” asked another student

Rituparno once again had an answer. “Who are we to decide the rights and wrongs of a relationship just because someone’s married? Arjun who was married to Draupadi also married Subhadra. Now go ask him or yourself why,” said the film-maker, drawing applause from the audience.

“I am so glad that there are so many of you with so many questions,” said Bhaduri, on whom the film is partly based. “This place is looking like a multiplex! The full house shows that more and more people are getting liberated,” remarked director Ganguly.

Dissecting the film and its characters, Rituparno said: “There is an impression that same-sex relationships are about physical love but that is not true. What is true in Chapal’s life, Abhiroop’s life and my life is what makes this story true.”

The session was organised by Ardhek Akaash, a magazine against gender bias brought out by students of Presidency and Jadavpur University. The walls of the venue reflected the afternoon’s theme with posters, writings and poems on homosexuality.

“I’m here because I’m crazy about Rituparno!” beamed second-year student Dolna Ray, who was squatting on the floor for a closer view of the film-maker.

“We were not sure what GenX was thinking about the film and the issue. Now we know,” smiled Rituparno as students with notepads and cellphone cameras flocked around the Tolly brigade for autographs and photographs.

Jisshu and Indraneil, who created a stir among the girls, were quizzed about their roles in the film. “I wasn’t on a search for myself. To me it was about a relationship between two human beings, which is normal like any other. The film carried an important message without being too preachy,” said Indraneil.